The Free State borders on six of the eight other provinces and is situated in the heart of South Africa. In the South-East of the province the ends of the Drakensberg and Maluti Mountain Ranges are found.   The Orange River, with a length of 100km and a width of about 24 km, ends in the Gariep dam. 57% of the inhabitants speak Sotho, whilst 15% speak Afrikaans. The Free State covers an area of about 129.280 square km.  The capital is Bloemfontein.   The Free State has historical importance, and traces of the war between 1899 and 1910 can still be seen. From 1854 until 1910, the Free State was an independent state, totally separate from the rest of South Africa.   One of the biggest gold findings in South Africa occurred in the 1940's in Welkom, the second biggest city in the Free State. Agriculturally, the Free State boasts a variety of maize, wheat and sunflower fields, together with an active cattle-breeding industry.   A few sights to see: Golden Gate National Park Gariep Dam “Sentinal Car Park” Willem Pretorius Game Reserve Bloemfontein